The decision to return to the ancient hollow, the potential gateway to the Whisperwood, wasn't made lightly. For days after felling the Cave Bear and reaching Level 19, Kael weighed his options. The memory of the desiccated spearman and the chilling power of the Effigy of the Silent Watcher were potent reminders of the dangers that awaited. But the riddle, the Attunement Shard, and the Sylphwing Quill were a constant pull, a promise of knowledge and perhaps, understanding of his own strange existence.
His solitude had bred a deep-seated caution, but also a resilient self-reliance. He was no longer the terrified boy who had stumbled into this world. He was a hunter, a crafter, a survivor who had carved a life from the wilderness with his own two hands and a sharp mind. Level 19 felt substantial, his attributes of STR 22, AGI 22, CON 22, INT 23, and WIS 20 a testament to his growth. He still had 3 unspent skill points, a small reserve he was hesitant to spend without a clear need or a significant opportunity.
His preparations were meticulous. He spent a week tanning the Cave Bear hide – a massive, tough pelt that, with his 'Advanced Crafting (Rank B)', he transformed into a sturdy, if somewhat crude, leather breastplate and greaves, offering far more protection than his previous deer-hide garments. He also crafted a new batch of 'Improved Arrows', fletching them with exceptional care using slivers from the Sylphwing Quill, their tips now razor-sharp obsidian he'd found and painstakingly knapped. His Ironwood shortbow was re-strung with fresh Direhorn Wolf sinew, its draw smooth and powerful in his strengthened grip.
He packed rations of smoked venison and bear jerky, filled his improved waterskin, and ensured his fire-starting kit was secure. The Tribal War Club, though he still incurred a minor penalty wielding it with his STR of 22 (System indicated STR 24 for optimal use after a re-evaluation, a previous estimate was too low), was strapped to his back. It was a heavier, more brutal option than his Direhorn Axe, perhaps better suited for unknown, armored threats. His Direhorn Axe, however, remained his primary melee weapon, familiar and balanced.
The Attunement Shard was tucked securely in a small pouch, along with the now-leaf-wrapped Effigy – a reminder and a warning. The Sylphwing Quill was, as always, either behind his ear or in his hand, its subtle connection to the air a constant companion.
Finally, he was ready. Corvus, perched on the palisade surrounding Kael's homestead, watched him with intelligent, knowing eyes.
"I'm going back to the old tree, Corvus," Kael said, his voice a low rumble, deeper than it had been three years prior. "The place you warned me about."
Corvus let out a series of soft caws, then launched himself into the air, circling once before heading in the direction of the deeply shadowed woods. He would scout ahead, as he always did.
The journey back to the ancient hollow felt different this time. Kael moved with a quiet confidence that bordered on predatory. His 'Stealth (Rank B)' and 'Silent Step' were second nature, his AGI of 22 allowing him to navigate the dense forest with an almost ghostly silence. The familiar landmarks – the stream where he'd found the flint and pyrite, the glade where he'd first hunted a deer – were passed with a detached sense of nostalgia. He was retracing his own history, a history written in survival and solitude.
As he entered the older part of the forest, where the shadows deepened and the ancient trees loomed, the air grew cooler, the familiar musky scent of the hollow reaching him even before he saw the colossal tree. The oppressive quietness was the same, but Kael felt less like an intruder and more like a deliberate investigator.
Corvus was waiting for him near the giant tree, perched on a high branch, his black feathers blending into the gloom. He let out a single, soft caw, then tilted his head towards the root-choked entrance. No immediate danger, then.
Kael approached, his bow in hand, an arrow nocked. The entrance looked just as he remembered it – dark, moss-draped, and exuding that ancient, potent energy. The warding symbols he'd uncovered three years ago were still there, faint and weathered. He paused at the threshold, his 'Keen Mind' and WIS of 20 working together, trying to sense any changes, any new threats. The System's warning about his level still lingered, but Level 19 was a world away from Level 4.
He took out the Attunement Shard. As before, it pulsed with a faint warmth when brought near the entrance, its own internal symbols glowing softly. This time, however, Kael felt something more – a subtle pull from the Shard, a gentle tug towards the darkness within the hollow, as if it yearned to connect with something deeper inside.
The Sylphwing Quill also seemed more active here, its vibrations more distinct, its amplification of his senses making the air itself seem to crackle with unseen energies. His 'Air Attunement (Rank F)' skill, though still rudimentary, allowed him to feel the faint, cold draft emanating from the passage with greater clarity.
"Alright," Kael breathed, his resolve hardening. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding this time."
With 'Silent Step' active and his senses straining, he pushed aside the curtain of Shadowmoss and stepped once more into the abyss.